Lorraine Elliss’ time and effort to football cannot be measured, nor can words truly reflect how much she has put in during her time with the Wanneroo Amateru Football Club.

Lorraines involvement with the Wanneroo Amateru Football Club started in the `90s when her husband who was involved in the club rocked up at home one day with the club books, plopped them on the table and said “guess what you are the treasurer”.

20 Years on, her official role on the committee of Wanneroo Amateur Football Club is club Treasurer but her commitment goes beyond that. This season Lorraine not only has the club finances under control, she has regularly dealt with the local council about club projects, assisted in the clubs major revenue stream in the bar, and completes various administration roles.

Lorraine has seen many people at the club come and go, but rarely would people know who Lorraine is. Her work behind the scenes has been paramount in maintaining the clubs future and if it was not for the hard work of Lorraine Elliss who knows if Wanneroo Amateur Football Club would been in the position it is today.

Every club has a treasurer but not every club has a Lorraine Ellis.

Lorraine will attend the 2017 Sandover Medal Count on Monday 18th September where she has progress to the WA Final of the 2017 Sunday Times WA Football Volunteer of the Year. She will join District Volunteers on Friday 22nd September at the 2017 District Football Awards of Excellence joining a strong band of volunteers to be awarded with Volunteer Excellence Awards.

The 2017 Awards of Excellence for the Claremont, Subiaco and West Perth Districts will be held on Friday 22nd September 2017 at the Rendezvous Hotel Scarborough.

The event will celebrate season 2017 and bring together clubs, volunteers, coaches, umpires and supporters from local junior clubs, senior clubs. local governments and football stakeholders.

In 2017 the event will grow, moving to the Grand Ballroom at Rendezvous Hotel Scarborough, and based on 2016 feedback the event moves to a new Friday evening time slot allowing clubs to celebrate season 2017 in style.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: Friday 22nd September 2017

Time: 6:30pm doors and bar opens | 7pm start

Venue: Grand Ballroom, Rendezvous Hotel Scarborough.

Dress Code: Lounge suit

AWARD FINALISTS:

Volunteer Excellence Awards:

Adam Dyer - Whitford AFC

Lorraine Elliss - Wanneroo AFC

Ray Garcia - West Perth FC

Binnie Greco - Quinns Districts JFC

Auskick Coach of the Year Finalists:

Brad Johnson - Ocean Ridge JFC

Paige Searson - Quinns Districts JFC

Carry Fisher - Yanchep Districts JFC

Modified Coach of the Year Finalists:

Sheldon Gault - Joondalup Kinross JFC

Trevor Tadman - Ocean Ridge JFC

David Stevens - Whitford JFC

Youth Coach of the Year Finalists:

Tom Hills - Edgewater Woodvale JFC

John Blackburn - Whitford JFC

Jack Ingram - Yanchep Distrcits JFC

Female Coach of the Year Finalists:

Donna Field - Brighton Seahawks JFC

Leslie Farrell - Quinns Districts AFC

Hollie Morrell - Quinns Distrcits JFC

Senior Coach of the Year Finalists:

Stephen Healy - Wanneroo AFC

Paul Beaver - West Perth FC (Womens)

Peter Barille - Whitford AFC

Young Achiever of the Year Finalists:

Severio Marafioti - Edgewater Woodvale JFC

Jayden Crane - Wanneroo JFC

Geogia Sneddon - West Perth Football Club

Umpire Service Awards - 5 years +

Nick Blanchard

Matthew Bonser

Brenton Cockman

Adam D'Ascenzo

Martin Davis

Dylan Ebert

Callum Giglia-Smith

Eamon Gilbert

James Haywood

Mark Vivian

Mitch Whan

Other awards to be presented on the eveing:

2017 WAFL Debuting Players - Club of Origin Presentations

2017 Umpire of the Year

2017 Junior Club of the Year

2017 Senior Club of the Year

EVENT TICKETS:

Tickets for the 2017 Awards of Excellence are now available for purchase.

Below is an email sent to the Junior Football League from a Junior Footy Parent this week - it is different to most of the emails the league receives and is worth sharing. This is an important message about respect for umpires and is worth considering as we enter the second half of season 2017 and start preparing for the finals season.

It is worth a read:

"The debate continues about the standard of junior umpires. Our umpires are continually blamed for close losses, player injuries, lack of control and generally no idea about footy. No wonder it is hard for umpires to recruit and increase participation, given the harassment they receive from coaches, players, parents, and spectators.

I cringe when there is conflict between coaches and umpires. For young players, this is a bad example for a coach to be setting. Our kids, our youth, our players follow by example, and if they see their own coach confronting an umpire, they think it’s ok for them to do the same.

As a former player and coach, I have found myself frustrated at times with an umpire’s decision mid-match. One thing I know that has not changed over my years of involvement in football is that umpires will never change their decision after copping a mouthful of abuse from a coach or player.

The role of umpire’s must be recognised and respected by the coaches, the players, the timekeepers, spectators and the parents. The umpire in a footy match has complete authority over players and coaches from the moment that he or she walks onto the field until the game is over. It is an umpire’s job to officiate the match within the rules and keep our players safe. It is also the role of the coach to pull up players who overstep the boundaries and put themselves and opposition players in danger. I find it astounding that coaches often point the finger at the umpire rather than looking at their coaching methods or the actions of their players.

We need to remind everyone involved in our game of the consequences if you abuse an umpire. The actions can have a much greater impact than what you think. We need to reiterate the need to treat umpires with respect both as a club official, coach, player and a spectator.

I absolutely agree that our umpires need to be accountable, just as players and coaches are on match day. They need to be fit, know and understand the rules, position themselves on field in the best position to make good decisions and are to also show respect to the players and coaches involved in the match they are umpiring. There is an expectation that our umpires perform, just as our players are. One thing to remember is that umpires, like players will make mistakes during a game. Our umpires attend training sessions as do our players. Our umpires have coaches, as do our players. We should not hold the umpires to account for the result of a match because of one bad decision! One umpires bad decision should not be blamed on next week’s umpire. Again I find it astounding that parents and coaches feel it acceptable to criticise an umpire in ways they would never dream in criticising their own players or children.

Many sports have instituted a zero-tolerance policy for spectators and parents, resulting in ejection from the game if umpires/officials are taunted, abused or jeered. I have attended many games as a spectator / parent and observed other spectators and parents dishing out excessive abuse to the younger umpires. What these spectators didn’t realise was that they were only hurting the young umpires concentration on the game and possibly discouraging him / her from continuing to work as an umpire in the future.

Parents can help ensure the health and safety of umpires in the future by starting to educate their kids on showing and treating umpires with respect. Coaches, players, parents, and spectators should never argue or dispute the decision of an umpire, make negative or derogatory remarks or gestures towards an umpire, or otherwise behave inappropriately to disturb the normal course of play in a game. Not only is this behaviour setting a bad example for players, it distracts the umpire, makes the coach’s job harder, and takes away from the enjoyment of the game. Remember, it’s only a game, and it’s important to set a good example of respecting the umpire for our young players."

Umpires are a very important part of the game - our kids can’t play without them.

All umpires train weekly in an excellent program led by our Junior Umpiring Coaches and leadership teams.

While we may not agree with an umpire’s call, we always need to respect their authority on the field. No player, parent or official is permitted to approach an umpire to question a decision at any time.

If you have any concerns about the standard of umpiring, let your coach or manager know and they’ll take it through the proper channels. Please remember they are working hard and doing their best. Just like our players and even parents, umpires are not perfect!

We also need to remember that many of the umpires at our game are young, and still learning, so give them the space they need to do that!

If any family is interested in the umpiring program we strongly encourage you to give it a go – it’s a great way to become a leader, earn some pocket money and it also helps our players with their football awareness.

The Falcons Football District has a rapidly growing population with the fastest growing migrant and multicultural demographic in the state. Australian Rules Football is continually being embraced by these new populations.

In celebration, the West Perth Football Club and the Falcons District will host an International Football festival on July 1st at HBF Arena, as the West Perth Football Club take on the Subiaco Football Club.

West Perth Football Club's league team will play in a special one-off themed Jumper in Round 15 to embrace its international community..

After the success of International Round in 2016, with more than 5000 people attending, the club hopes for even more community involvement in 2017 and an attendance figure of over 6,000.

Every football club, league or association is being encouraged to nominate an outstanding volunteer who has made a significant contribution to WA football, for the West Australian Football Commission’s Sunday Times WA Football Volunteer of the Year award.

Each year the West Australian Football Commission, in partnership with The Sunday Times, recognises volunteers and administrators for their outstanding work, whether it may be the completion of a significant project throughout the year or someone who has contributed in a number of roles over a long period.

A Volunteer of the Year award winner is selected from each state and territory and receives two tickets to the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final (with flights and accommodation) and the opportunity to walk in the Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade, thanks to the AFL. Read More ...

Please note: You must attend one of the above courses to be eligible as a Parent Umpire in season 2017. If you have previously been a Parent Umpire in 2014, 2015 or 2016, please also register and provide us with your umpiring history.

Registrations are now open for Bounce Down 2017 - Season Launch. Clubs are asked to invite Coaches and Managers from the Year 7 - Year 12 competitions playing in the Northern Conference (Claremont, Subiaco and West Perth Competitions) as well as club committee members.

Each team is required to have at least one of the following in attendance:

Coach (Preferred)

Team Manager

Assistant Coach

(all three positions can attend if desired)

Note: It is a requirement that each team has a representative in attendance in order to field a team for season 2017.

Club President, Coach Coordinator and Executive Committees are encouraged to attend.

Each team will be provided with a coaching clip-board, Junior Club Manual, 2017 By-Laws and Bounce Down Conference Pack at the conclusion of the evening (one per team). A team representative (as per roles listed above) must be in attendance to collect the team pack.

Included in the registration is an option to include any suggestions to improve the competition, please take the time to consider as we value your input. To register please click on the link provided:

Commonly known as Australia’s “queen of common sense”, Maggie Dent is an author, educator, and parenting and resilience specialist with a particular interest in the early years and adolescence.

Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling, and working in palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention. Maggie is an advocate for the healthy, common-sense raising of children in order to strengthen families and communities. She is a passionate, positive voice for children of all ages.

Now an in-demand writer and speaker, Maggie is a regular contributor to Fairfax’s Essential Kids website and Teachers Matter magazine. She can also be heard on commercial and ABC radio around the country including Nova 937 and appears on TV programs such as The Daily Edition, Sunrise, Today Extra and news.

She is the author of ten books, several e-books and a prolific creator of resources for parents, adolescents, teachers, educators and others who are interested in quietly improving their lives.

Maggie is the proud mother of four wonderful sons, and an enthusiastic and grateful grandmother.

If you require any further information please contact Callum Warner on 0437 965 912.

Development Officer - Metro North

Applications Close: Thursday March 02 2017

The West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) is the peak Australian Rules Football body in Western Australia and is the caretaker of football throughout the State. It is responsible for the overall development of the game across the community.

The WAFC is a not for profit organisation that plays an important role in funding the on-going development of football in all communities. This ensures that football is the best resourced sporting code in the State and can have the most active role in building better communities through various development programs.

We now have an opportunity for an enthusiastic and dedicated individual to join our team as Development Officer in our Metro North team growing our great game in the Claremont District on a twelve (12) month fixed term contract. The position is located primarily in Claremont and will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of broad-based participation programs fundamental to the strategic and operational objectives of the WAFC and the Claremont District.

Applicants should be prepared to be actively involved in all participation activities and develop exciting new initiatives in order to grow football within the district.

Key responsibilities will include:

Football and Game Development, including Player, Coach, Umpire, Club and Volunteer Education.

Promoting the District and associated stakeholders.

Advocate all game segments including Female, Aboriginal and Multicultural

Working closely with volunteer leaders, community football & school stakeholders, and WAFL club leaders.

Assisting with Football events including the planning, organizing and oversight of initiatives to best represent the WAFC and District throughout the community.

Able to work outside normal business hours including evenings and weekends.

Current WA Drivers License.

WWC Card

Desirable selection criteria include:

Level 1, 2 or 3 AFL Coaching Accreditation.

Level 1 Umpiring Accreditation.

Knowledge of the WA Football structure including the District Football Development Model and JCC.

Knowledge of the Claremont District, including factors that may influence the Football environments within it.

Knowledge of sporting environments at club, school, district or state level.

The successful applicant will receive a competitive remuneration package including a fully maintained vehicle and phone, as well as the opportunity to work in Australia’s premier sporting industry.

If you are interested in applying for this exciting position, please submit an application letter (maximum two pages) addressing your ability to address the key responsibilities and selection criteria above, along with your resume to recruitment@wafc.com.au by 2 March 2017.